Welcome to the Student Voice series. The series interviews students in our English-medium programs. We hope these interviews can be helpful to you when thinking about choosing to come to Ritsumeikan University (RU).
Post by International Admissions Office
I was a student in the IB Program at Ritsumeikan Uji High School, where I first took a class called Global Politics (Higher Level). I became deeply intrigued by the course content and found analyzing real-world conflicts and political events as they appeared on the news truly vital and relevant. This was my motivation to pursue international relations (IR) at the undergraduate level.
I have always aspired to study abroad, especially in the U.S. That is why I chose the Joint Degree Program (JDP). It allows me to study at both Ritsumeikan and American University, which are two institutions renowned for their IR departments.
Ritsumeikan University (RU) is host to many students from all around the world, offering a diverse environment where students can have rich and meaningful discussions inside and outside the classroom. Meanwhile, American University (AU) is located in Washington D.C., which, needless to say, is the heart of world politics, where major decisions are made and impacts can be felt immediately. For an IR student like myself, D.C. has so much to offer, from monuments, museums and public libraries, to embassies and internship opportunities.
What makes this program unique is that it offers a single, coherent curriculum across two different countries, providing us with diverse cultural perspectives and awarding us a joint degree at the end of our journey. Furthermore, the professors and staff at both universities have offered a lot of support throughout our transition between Japan and the US. We have also been fortunate to have many scholarship opportunities available to support the financial aspects of the program.
The program provides a very balanced curriculum to follow throughout the time at RU and AU. In the first year, there are foundational gateway courses designed to prepare students for more advanced studies. These classes allow students to adapt to university-level learning and gain experience writing academic essays. In my case, I was able to receive credit for the IB classes that I took in high school, which allowed me to begin taking second-year classes during my first year at RU. I truly appreciated this flexibility, because it gave me the space to explore other subjects I was interested in and fulfill program requirements earlier than expected.
At AU, the variety of courses is even broader. While the first semester at AU is largely dedicated to fulfilling Liberal Arts requirements, there is such a wide selection that allows everyone student to find classes that they find genuinely interesting. For example, I took classes like Studio Arts, Golf, Moral Philosophy, and Intermediate Chinese, which helped me gain knowledge and skills in diverse fields outside of IR. From the second semester at AU, the curriculum becomes more focused on the classes offered by the School of International Service. I took classes such as International Economics, Societies and Culture in Japan and the U.S., and even an Oral History of Asian American Pacific Islander Communities in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV Area).
Many classes at both RU and AU are small-scale and student-led. I always find it intriguing to learn through these meaningful discussions, as hearing the unique perspectives of my peers adds so much depth to the curriculum.
The class that I found most compelling was Race and Ethnicity, which I took in my second semester at Ritsumeikan University. During the course, we analyzed various global political and social issues rooted in ethnic and racial tensions, exploring how these dynamics can escalate into devastating conflicts.
We discussed many interesting topics, including race in sports, the concept of "mixed-race" identities in Japan, and the complexities of multiculturalism. For my final paper, I decided to write about the intersectionality of race and gender in women's professional tennis. As a tennis player myself, this was a topic I felt personally passionate about. I found it incredibly rewarding to research the historical and social layers of the sport I love, and I am particularly proud of the final analysis I produced for that project.
In spring 2024, I was selected for an internship with KYOTOGRAPHIE, an international photography festival hosted at various venues across Kyoto. The festival features many photographers from around the world and focuses on important themes such as the Romanian diaspora in France, protests in Iran, and the Yanomami tribe in the Amazon rainforest.
I was a member of the Children's Workshop team, where I helped set up venues and facilitate events using both Japanese and English. These workshops were a unique learning experience, as I had the opportunity to work alongside and speak directly with renowned and talented photographers.
Another perk of interning at KYOTOGRAPHIE was getting to work within venues with exhibitions that I was interested in. Supporting exhibitions about the Romani people in France and women in Iran was impactful and insightful. In fact, the exhibition on the Iranian protests was so moving that it led me to choose that movement as the topic for my semester term paper.
I truly appreciate the close-knit community our program has, regardless of which university we are currently attending. During my first year, senpais (senior students) from both the RU and AU cohorts helped me prepare for my transition to American University. They shared personal stories about life in D.C. and gave me valuable recommendations for dorms and classes.
Because JDP is a smaller, specialized program within the IR department, we take many classes together and naturally became close friends. My own cohort has grown even tighter since moving to D.C. as we explore the city together and support each other on a daily basis.
I especially enjoy the JDP-exclusive classes, where RU and AU Sakura Scholars, students who enter through RU and AU respectively, learn together. These sessions allow me to connect with the entire JDP community, and this sense of belonging is undoubtedly the most rewarding part of the program, knowing that no matter which country I am in, I have a community I can rely on.
After graduation, I am planning on going to graduate school. Building on the knowledge and experience I have gained from both Ritsumeikan and American university for the past four years, I would like to further pursue the field of international relations in greater depth. I want to focus on Japan–U.S. relations as well as the Asia-Pacific region and learn more about the diplomatic and economic ties between them. I hope to pursue a career that allows me to analyze and bridge the relationship between Japan and the United States.
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At Ritsumeikan, I was a member of BBP, which stands for Beyond Borders Plaza. It is a dedicated space on campus designed to facilitate interaction between international and Japanese students. As a staff member, I managed the plaza during my free periods and assisted students with their questions about campus life. Together with my team, I organized and facilitated various cultural engagement events, ranging from dumpling-making workshops to sports tournaments. The BBP was where I met many of my closest international friends, and I highly recommend it to any student looking to practice a foreign language or expand their global network.
At AU, I joined the tennis club and served as the women's captain in my second year. Throughout the semester, I organized practices and participated in several tournaments, competing at universities across the DMV area, including Georgetown University, George Mason University, and the University of Maryland. I have met incredible teammates whom I now consider my closest friends, and I feel a great sense of pride in representing AU.
This program is truly one of a kind, offering an experience that you simply cannot find elsewhere. As the first undergraduate program between Japan and the US to provide a joint degree in IR, it offers an unmatchable level of academic depth and cultural immersion.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at both Ritsumeikan University and American University, and I am confident that you will too! If you are passionate about IR and aspire to challenge yourself on a global stage, I cannot recommend this program enough. Your journey as a Sakura Scholar will not only broaden your perspectives but also provide you with a community and skills that will last a lifetime. I look forward to seeing you join our global community!